Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-11-03

Eyes, where he fell on a swing and
Eyes. know him. Wait minute
till fix the fire.
| And rs Horseshoe laid more boughs
on the fire in front of the cabin. alone
under the pines, he noticed that his
hand trembled and he seemed strange
Iy weak-for him. For he knew now
that it was the old mans boy whom he
had killed two days before.
When lie returned to the cabin he
felt stronger.
..How's he doing; how's he getting
along?" eagerly questioned the old
/ man.
| He got along-or l mean he's get
ting aiong-frst-rate He has" con-
tinued the artless Mr.. Jones. his old
candor coming back. Frequently
store. Your boy is all right Then
he sat there in the deep shadow and
talked with the old man about his boy
ii long time-the frank and ingenious
| Mr.. Jones. But after he threw him
| self down outside by the fire and looked
up at the stars shining down through
| the clear mountain air be slept and
| dreamed that Joe came and stood and
looked at him-at Horseshoe Bragg.
But it was only the colt gazing at him
sleepily when he awoke.
He stayed with the old man week
| and nursed him carefully. He fixed
up the tumble-dOwn cabin and wrapped
the old man in the blankets. He shot
game with the rusty gun and cooked it
with all the skill he had. The old man
might have had a better nurse, but
hardly more faithful. But he grew
worse, he had Il high fever, the hard
ships and exposures of the trip had
been too much for his strength. After
awhile Horseshoe sat with him all
night and caught little maps himself
when his patient slept.
One night he noticed the old man
was weaker than usual and appeared
to be sinking. 1t was clear and cold
| outside, and as he went to pile of
| boughs little distance from the cabin
he noticed they were white with frost.
There was faint touch of light in the
east rs he replenished the fire the last
time. When he went back he found
the old man half raised up on the floor
gazing at the shadows which came and
ever fitted away again on the wall.
40, YOU are here, are you," he said,
rs he sank back; sis the colt all right?
And how is Joe-is he doing we'll? l
knew 1 would find him-hc is such
little fellow he couldn't go far-just
| down beyond the barn and along the
| creek looking for buttercups in the
meadow. Joe is fond of flowers and
he was looking for them, but found
him. He paused and watched the
shadows. Then he said: ''See the light
on the WALL That's the way it always
shines out of the old fireplace. There
is big fire tonight because they are
getting supper" The old man was
wandering back to the scenes of his
childhood. The morning wind which
had just sprung up moaned through
the pines without. Hear the fire roar
man, land see the light on the wall. 1
was lost, but they came and found me,
and brought me back just in time for
supper. l knew my mother would
come after me and bring me back and
in by the big, old re-place. Now they
are all here, mother and father and
little sister Mary-they' all glad Joe
has got bacl-Im Joe; I've been lost
and have come back to get warm by
| the fire. But it isn't warm here-carry
me nearer the fire. am cold must
have been lost long time, 4 very long
time-I am so cold. Hear the fire,
Gn 70. -atf 20 hut I
cold" He closed his eyes and all was
still. Horseshoe crossed the old mans
hands on his breast and murmured:
'.He is dead-he will never know about
joe" He started to rise, when the old
man opened his eyes again and there
was n different look in them. Then he
said said feebly, and it took all the
strength he had:
You have been very good to me.
very good; Joe will repay You for it
when you tell him. And tell him that
his old father was coming to him, but
his strength gave out. God bless your
And his eyes closed and the old man
went on his journey to meet Joe in an
other world. Horseshoe Bragg went
out by the dying fire and listened to
the sobbing of the morning wind in the
dark pine trees above his head. and
gazed ut the crimson and gold of the
sky away beyond the mountains to the
east.
A week after went past the little
tumble-down hut with party OF pros
pectors. There was new-made grave
under the pines. the soil neatly rounded
up. but no mark. -Four weeks after
that 1 was in Sidney, Neb., and one
night while lettering about a gambling
house three or four shots were fired in
one corner of the large room. a min